Logo of the Tekuma Party, the last remaining faction of the National Union.

MK Uri Ariel was selected for the lead spot in the Tekuma party, making him the new chairman of the National Union, replacing MK Ya’akov Katz.

The Tekuma party was the last remaining party of the National Union, after MK Aryeh Eldad and firebrand MK Michael Ben Ari deserted the party due to its merger agreement with the Jewish Home party.

Eldad and Ben Ari complained that they were being forced out by being placed at unrealistic spots on the list in a deal that Katz had brokered.

The two left and formed a new party “Otzma L’Yisrael” (Strength to Israel).

Ariel has repeatedly said that he wants the two to return to the National Union.

Following Ariel, Tekuma/National Union’s list is as follows: former Rabbinical court judge Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, Zevulon Kalpa, Orit Strook, Hillel Horowitz, and General-Director of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Nachi Eyal.

The highest number of seats polls show the joint Jewish Home-National Union list is 13, making any further spots on the Tekuma list unrealistic, especially if Eldad and Ben Ari were to return and push other candidates further down.

About the Author:Daniel Tauber is a frequent contributor to various prominent publications, including the Jewish Press, Arutz Sheva, Americanthinker.com, the Jerusalem Post and Ha’aretz. Daniel is also an attorney admitted to practice law in Israel and New York and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. You can follow him on facebook and twitter.

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